Francisco Ortiz de Vergara facts for kids

Francisco Ortiz de Vergara was a Spanish explorer and colonizer. He was born in Seville, Spain, in 1524. He became an important leader in the early history of the Río de la Plata region in South America. He served as the governor of this area.

Who Was Francisco Ortiz de Vergara?

Francisco Ortiz de Vergara was a conquistador, which means he was a Spanish explorer and soldier. These individuals played a big role in exploring and claiming new lands for Spain. He was also a colonizer, meaning he helped set up new Spanish settlements in these lands.

Becoming Governor

Ortiz de Vergara became the governor of the Governorate of the Río de la Plata. This was a large area in South America that is now part of countries like Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. He took over from the previous governor, Gonzalo de Mendoza.

What was special about his appointment was that he was elected by the people in the colony. This was different from most governors who were chosen directly by the King of Spain. A religious leader, Pedro de la Torre, confirmed his election.

Challenges and New Settlements

During his time as governor, Francisco Ortiz de Vergara faced some difficulties. He was later removed from his position by a powerful Spanish court called the Royal Audience. This happened after some disagreements and challenges raised by another important figure, Nuño de Chaves. Ortiz de Vergara then returned to Spain in 1565.

Even with these challenges, his time as governor saw efforts to create new towns. There were attempts to establish settlements like Sancti Spiritus and San Francisco. One important settlement was Santa Cruz de la Sierra. This city was first started in a different location. It was later moved over 200 kilometers to where it is today. The original site of Santa Cruz de la Sierra is now an archaeological site. It is known as Santa Cruz la Vieja.

See also

• In Spanish: Francisco Ortiz de Vergara para niños